Holy Land tour

Day

Activity

Day 1

Arrival Day: Our driver will meet you in the airport to bring you to Bethlehem. Welcome and orientation by Hijazi Travel representative. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem

Day 2

Bethlehem, the Birthplace of Jesus: Visit Manger Square and the Nativity Church with its Grotto of the Nativity. Milk Grotto, the segregation wall tour and views of the graffiti. After lunch visit the Solomon Pools, the Roman water system 2,000 years old. Visit Artass the Village Lettuce. Visit to one of the olive wood workshops in Bethlehem. Back to the hotel for dinner and overnight Bethlehem.

Day 3

Hebron: Hebron is the main center for the southern West Bank. Home to 230,000 people, it is also the largest city in the West Bank after Jerusalem, as well as the region’s commercial and industrial center. The city is closely associated with Abraham, known in Arabic as Ibrahim el-Khalil, the friend of God. Hebron is also famous for its glass and pottery factories, which we will visit. Much of the charming, traditional pottery and elegant glass made in Hebron is sold in stores across the country. HRC (Hebron Rehabilitation Committee), visit Ibrahimi mosque with its tombs of Patriarchs and Matriarchs (except Rachel). We will visit the Old City and Casbah (Souq). Overnight in Bethlehem.

Day 4

Jericho and Dead Sea: Jericho is the oldest continuously inhabited town on earth, dating back 10,000 years.Visit the Wadi Qelt view point, Jericho City center, the vegetable market, and the sycamore tree associated with the story of Zacchaeus the tax collector and his encounter with Jesus. Visit the ancient Tel Jericho and Ain al-Sultan: the site dates back to 9,000 BC and includes Jericho’s tower. Tour the ruin of Hisham’s Palace, built by the Umayyad Caliph — a complex of buildings, baths, mosques, and colonnaded courts. Afternoon: floating on the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is over 423 metres (1,388 ft) below sea level, and is the lowest point on earth. The leading attraction of the Dead Sea is its warm, soothing, and highly salty water – ten times saltier than sea water. Slather yourself with the medicinal mud. Dinner and overnight in the Bedouin tent in the desert, with a lovely evening around the campfire to enjoy Bedouin music and tea, counting the stars in the clear sky and more…

Day 5

Sunrise and desert walk 3- 4 hours: Wake up early to see the sun rise over the Jordanian mountains, and when possible, to attend the morning milking of the camels. We can try the milk. Then enjoy walking in the Jerusalem wilderness. Passing by the Camels’ grazing areas ending to the breathtaking overlooking point of Dead Sea. We will enjoy our picnic lunch and Bedouins’ tea made by wood. Afternoon drive along the desert with 4–wheel drive car. Dinner and overnight in Nablus.

Day 6

Nablus: Visit a traditional olive oil soap factory; visit and meet with the Samaritan community, the smallest ethnic and religious community on earth. Explore the old city of Nablus. Visit Jacob’s well and Tel Balata, the Bronze Age city of Nablus (Sheikem) Abraham’s first point of arrival in Canaan. Tour the Balata refugee camp, and learn about the refugee issue. In the evening enjoy the Turkish Bath hot flours, sauna, steam room and massage. Dinner and overnight in Nablus.

Day 7

Jenin: In the morning we visit the Jenin refugee camp, including the Freedom Theater, Tell Jenin, Fatima Khatoon Mosque. Lunch

Sibastia: Visit Sebastia / Samaria the Roman city. About 12 km northeast of Nablus is the small village of Sebastia, pop. 2600. Sebastia’s hilltop acropolis was the home of the biblical King Omri and his ill-fated family members, Ahab and Jezebel. There is evidence of at least six civilizations on the site, including significant Roman ruins. Overnight in Nablus camp.

Day 8

Jerusalem: In the morning, leave to Jerusalem. You will visit Mount of Olives, walk traditional Palm Sunday route to Dominus Flevit Church (where Jesus wept over city of Jerusalem) and the Garden of Gethsemane, Jaffa Gate and David’s Citadel, Dormition church, the Armenian quarter, Jerusalem wall and gates. Overnight in Bethlehem.

Day 9

Jerusalem: Visit the al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock, Stroll through the Old City markets to the Holy Sepulchre Church, traditional site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus. Tour the Silwan neighborhood to explore the archaeological site known as City of David, continue to Warren’s Shaft. Descend to the Gihon Spring and walk through Hezekiah’s Tunnel (bring old shoes for the walk through knee-deep water) to the Pool of Siloam (John 9: 1-11) and meet Mr. Fakhri Abu Diab, chief of the local committee. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 10

Nazareth: Nazareth is the most important Palestinian city in Israel. Visit the Annunciation site, the town of Jesus’ childhood, the Annunciation Church, the International Mary’s Center, the Synagogue Church, traditional site of the synagogue of Jesus’ time. See the painted ceilings, Nazareth Market, the White Mosque, and Nazareth Ilit, Roman city. Overnight in Nazareth.

Day 11

Haifa: Drive to Haifa and visit the Stella Maris monastery at Mount Carmel, traditional site of Elijah’s cave. Enjoy the panoramic view of Haifa port and the Mediterranean Sea. See the lovely Bahai garden and the Wadi Nisnas. Experience a city of mixed Palestinian and Jewish population.

Akko: old city and port. The main city for crusaders and their last fortress, the city that witnessed local Ottoman governors, the defeat of Napoleon, and a Palestinian city that became a Jewish city with an Arabic minority. Overnight in Nazareth.

Day 12

Tiberias (Sea of Galilee): Drive to the Sea of Galilee, which is really a lake, where Jesus performed many miracles. Visit Capernaum, the Mount of the Beatitudes, Tabgha, and Mount Tabor. Overnight in Nazareth.

Contact Hijazi Travel

"I love my work--it is more than a job, it is a mission of love to my country and my people; it is a mission of making change."
~Hijazi Eid

Journey to Bethlehem

Christmas walk

Follow the Path of the Holy Family. A family adventure.
For more information

Dead Sea

Dead Sea

Lovely evening in the desert with Bedouins

Hijazi Travel invites you for a lovely evening with a Bedouin family in the Jerusalem wilderness. Watch the sunset and enjoy the breathtaking view of the Dead Sea. Then join our host family for a delicious traditional Bedouin dinner in their tent. After dinner gather with our hosts to drink camel milk, tea and coffee around the camp-fire, walk around the camp, or lie down to experience the mystery of the desert at night counting the stars in the clear sky while a gentle breeze ruffles your hair. For more information